John and Janet Rushmere moved to Willow Valley Communities in 2013 from Chester County. Their way of life is a mixture of activities, outings, and family time. Janet and John are enthusiastically involved in a number of Willow Valley Communities activities. John works out, walks, swims, and also enjoys playing bridge. Janet, a dedicated swimmer, trains in the aquatics and fitness centers. She balances her busy fitness schedule with her interest in art, literature, music, and healthy food. She and John frequently dine in downtown Lancaster and hold season tickets to the Fulton Theatre. “Choosing Willow Valley Communities is the wisest decision we ever made,” Janet said.
But one of the happiest activities is when Janet and John’s extended family visit. John’s son, Paul, and his wife, Ruth, often come with their adult daughter, Julie, and her husband, John, along with their two young boys, Isaac, 6, and Eli, 4 — John and Janet’s great-grandsons!
The boys love the Willow Valley Communities Clubhouse, which is a short walk from John and Janet’s villa at the Providence Park community. They go swimming and bowling and play in the vintage arcade, and afterwards there’s always an ice cream treat from The Clubhouse Café and Ice Cream Parlor. In the future Julie plans to bring the boys to use Willow Valley Communities’ indoor pools at the Cultural Center. They have just started swim lessons and can get extra practice there year-round.
The Rushmeres also love celebrating holidays and birthdays with family dinners at Willow Valley Communities. It’s an easy drive for Paul, Ruth, John, Julie, and the boys from their homes in Northeast Maryland and Newark, Delaware. Julie’s brother, Mark, lives in Pittsburgh, and he comes often as well.
Janet says Willow Valley Communities makes it seamless for all the generations of Rushmeres to have a celebratory dinner together. “It couldn’t be easier. There’s no shopping, no cooking, no preparing, and no cleaning. I’m done with that!” she laughed. Janet added how convenient it is for her to reserve a private dining room for her family. It makes it more fun for Isaac and Eli. “The boys are free to run around or crawl under the table after dinner without us worrying about them bothering anybody.”
Janet also said that there doesn’t have to be a special occasion or event to have fun with her great-grandsons at Willow Valley Communities. “We’ve enjoyed walks together to the ponds near our villa. There are baby turtles, ducks, and fish — it’s perfect for little boys!”
